"Heartz, writing near the end of a massive three-volume account of the Classical era, writes ""The Hunting and Drinking choruses first led me to study Haydn's music more extensively beginning some forty years ago ... no music has elated me more in old age than ""The Seasons""."" Michael Steinberg writes that the work ""ensure[s] Haydn's premiere place with Titian, Michelangelo and Turner, Mann and Goethe, Verdi and Stravinsky, as one of the rare artists to whom old age brings the gift of ever bolder invention."" Opinions vary as to the nature of the relationship between ""The Creation"" and ""The Seasons"""
"The Creation (Haydn) The Creation () is an oratorio written between 1797 and 1798 by Joseph Haydn (Hob. XXI:2), and considered by many to be one of his masterpieces. The oratorio depicts and celebrates the creation of the world as described in the Book of Genesis. The libretto was written by Gottfried van Swieten. The work is structured in three parts and scored for soprano, tenor and bass soloists, chorus and a symphonic orchestra. In parts I and II, depicting the creation, the soloists represent the archangels Raphael (bass), Uriel (tenor) and Gabriel (soprano). In part III, the bass and"
"The Creation structure The Creation, the oratorio by Joseph Haydn, is structured in three parts. He composed it in 1796–1798 on German text as Die Schöpfung. The work is set for soloists, chorus and orchestra. Its movements are listed in tables for their form, voice, key, tempo marking, time signature and source. The origin of the libretto is not known. Haydn received the booklet in English in London on his second extended stay in 1795 from his impresario Johann Peter Salomon. According to Haydn, it was passed by a certain Lidley, or perhaps Thomas Linley, and was attributed to him,"
"and later a busy entrepreneur, Haydn wrote his works quickly and in profusion, with frequent deadlines. As a rich man, Haydn now felt that he had the privilege of taking his time and writing for posterity. This is reflected in the subject matter of ""The Creation"" (1798) and ""The Seasons"" (1801), which address such weighty topics as the meaning of life and the purpose of humankind and represent an attempt to render the sublime in music. Haydn's new intentions also meant that he was willing to spend much time on a single work: both oratorios took him over a year"
"text is derived from ""Paradise Lost"". The book of Genesis is abbreviated ""Gen"", the Book of Psalms ""Ps"". The English translations are taken from the edition of the Oxford University Press, 1991. The Creation structure The Creation, the oratorio by Joseph Haydn, is structured in three parts. He composed it in 1796–1798 on German text as Die Schöpfung. The work is set for soloists, chorus and orchestra. Its movements are listed in tables for their form, voice, key, tempo marking, time signature and source. The origin of the libretto is not known. Haydn received the booklet in English in London"
"then moved on to larger projects: the full-scale oratorios ""The Creation"" (1798) and ""The Seasons"" (1801). Van Swieten translated (from English to German) and adapted the source material, which came from an anonymous English libretto and James Thomson's poem ""The Seasons"", respectively. He also translated in the reverse direction, putting the German back into English in a way that would fit the rhythm of Haydn's music. This reverse translation, though often awkward, enabled the first published editions of these oratorios to serve both German- and English-speaking audiences. In the margins of his libretti, Van Swieten made many specific artistic suggestions"
"Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 1809 4 November 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early romantic period. Mendelssohn wrote symphonies, concertos, oratorios, piano music and chamber music. His best-known works include his Overture and incidental music for ""A Midsummer Night's Dream"", the ""Italian Symphony"", the ""Scottish Symphony"", the overture ""The Hebrides"", his mature Violin Concerto, and his String Octet. His ""Songs Without Words"" are his most famous solo piano compositions. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and antisemitism"
"The Four Seasons (Vivaldi) The Four Seasons () is a group of four violin concerti by Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, each of which gives musical expression to a season of the year. They were written around 1721 and were published in 1725 in Amsterdam, together with eight additional violin concerti, as (""The Contest Between Harmony and Invention""). ""The Four Seasons"" is the best known of Vivaldi's works. Though three of the concerti are wholly original, the first, ""Spring"", borrows motifs from a Sinfonia in the first act of Vivaldi's contemporaneous opera ""Il Giustino"". The inspiration for the concertos was probably"
"""The Seasons"" was prepared by August Schleicher in 1865, but this edition was criticized by Georg H. F. Nesselmann, who prepared an edition in 1869. Donelaitis and his works are considered to be an important part of Lithuanian culture, which also led to creation of literature and music works based on Donelaitis's life and his poem ""The Seasons"". In Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre in 1985, an opera ""Kristijonas"" by Algimantas Bražinskas was performed. In 2012, an oratorio ""Seasons"" by Bronius Kutavičius was performed. Kristijonas Donelaitis Kristijonas Donelaitis (; 1 January 1714 – 18 February 1780) was a Prussian"
"Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (; 4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian Baroque musical composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher, and priest. Born in Venice, the capital of the Venetian Republic, he is regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe. He composed many instrumental concertos, for the violin and a variety of other instruments, as well as sacred choral works and more than forty operas. His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as the ""Four Seasons"". Many of his compositions were written for the"
"was based on extracts from the long English poem ""The Seasons"" by James Thomson (1700–1748), which had been published in 1730. Whereas in ""The Creation"" Swieten was able to limit himself to rendering an existing (anonymous) libretto into German, for ""The Seasons"" he had a much more demanding task. Olleson writes, ""Even when Thomson's images were retained, they required abbreviation and adaptation to such an extent that usually no more than faint echoes of them can be discerned, and the libretto often loses all touch with the poem which was its starting point. Increasingly during the course of the oratorio,"
"oratorio ""The Seasons"" (1801), in which the bass soloist depicts a plowman whistling Haydn's tune as he works. The same theme is also frequently adapted for the purpose of teaching musical beginners; see Papa Haydn. The composer Charles Ives wrote a parody of the second movement in 1909, penning the words ""Nice little easy sugar-plum sounds"" under the opening notes. Ives was unhappy with concert audiences who unadventurously resisted difficult modern music—as is shown by other words in his parody: ""Nice sweety silk bonnet melodies ... nice pretty perfumed sounds for the dress circle cushion chai[r] ears."" Since the opening"
"appears to have started this trend of adapting music from ""The Four Seasons"", and since then it has expanded into many aspects of the performing arts (as have other instrumental & vocal works by the composer). This ""contest between harmony and invention"" (as it were) now involves various genres around the world: 1775 The Four Seasons (Vivaldi) The Four Seasons () is a group of four violin concerti by Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, each of which gives musical expression to a season of the year. They were written around 1721 and were published in 1725 in Amsterdam, together with eight"
"Haydn's oratorio ""The Seasons"". Thomson is one of the sixteen Scottish poets and writers appearing on the Scott Monument on Princes Street in Edinburgh. He appears on the right side of the east face. Thomson has a large memorial in Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey next to William Shakespeare and underneath his countryman, Robert Burns. James Thomson (poet, born 1700) James Thomson (c. 11 September 1700 – 27 August 1748) was a British poet and playwright, known for his poems ""The Seasons"" and ""The Castle of Indolence"", and for the lyrics of ""Rule, Britannia!"". James Thomson was born in Ednam"
"Christmas Oratorio The Christmas Oratorio (), , is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It was written for the Christmas season of 1734 and incorporates music from earlier compositions, including three secular cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 and a now lost church cantata, BWV 248a. The date is confirmed in Bach's autograph manuscript. The next performance was not until 17 December 1857 by the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin under Eduard Grell. The ""Christmas Oratorio"" is a particularly sophisticated example of parody music. The author of the text is unknown, although a"
"1982); references to works are often accompanied by their ""H"" (for Hitchcock) number. The following lists show selected pieces, not his entire production in each genre. Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French composer of the Baroque era. Exceptionally prolific and versatile, Charpentier produced compositions of the highest quality in several genres. His mastery in writing sacred vocal music, above all, was recognized and hailed by his contemporaries. Any family relationship between him and Gustave Charpentier, the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century French opera composer, is highly unlikely. Charpentier was born in or near Paris,"
"Road Concert Hall in Cambridge. Le Laudi Le Laudi (""The Praises""), Op. 25, is an oratorio by the Swiss composer Hermann Suter. The full title is ""Le Laudi di San Francesco d'Assisi (Cantico delle creature)"" (""The Praises of St. Francis of Assisi (Canticle of the Creatures)"", based on Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Sun in the original Italian. Suter scored it for soloists, choir, children's choir and large orchestra. Premiered in 1924, it is one of Suter's most important works and has been performed regularly in his home country. Suter composed the work to mark the 100th anniversary of"
"the royal chapel and conductor of the orchestra of the Opéra. From the beginning of 1818, he taught composition at the Conservatoire, where over the years he had for pupils Hector Berlioz, Ambroise Thomas, Charles Gounod, Louis Désiré Besozzi and Antoine François Marmontel. He died on 6 October 1837 in Paris. Jean-François Le Sueur Jean-François Le Sueur (more commonly Lesueur; ) (15 February 17606 October 1837) was a French composer, best known for his oratorios and operas. He was born at Plessiel, a hamlet of Drucat near Abbeville, to a long-established family of Picardy, the great-nephew of the painter Eustache"
"James Thomson (poet, born 1700) James Thomson (c. 11 September 1700 – 27 August 1748) was a British poet and playwright, known for his poems ""The Seasons"" and ""The Castle of Indolence"", and for the lyrics of ""Rule, Britannia!"". James Thomson was born in Ednam in Roxburghshire around 11 September 1700 and baptised on 15 September. He was the fourth of nine children of Thomas Thomson and Beatrix Thomson (née Trotter). Beatrix Thomson was born in Fogo, Berwickshire and was a distant relation of the house of Hume. Thomas Thomson was the Presbyterian minister of Ednam until eight weeks after"
"complete English version of the Christmas Oratorio was that prepared in 1874 by John Troutbeck for the music publisher Novello. A new edition has been worked up by Neil Jenkins. Each section combines choruses (a pastoral ""Sinfonia"" opens Part II instead of a chorus), chorales and from the soloists recitatives, ariosos and arias. By notational convention the recitatives are in common time. Christmas Oratorio The Christmas Oratorio (), , is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It was written for the Christmas season of 1734 and incorporates music from earlier compositions,"
"by at least 35 composers from 1730–90. In Germany the middle baroque oratorios moved from the early-baroque ""Historia"" style Christmas and Resurrection settings of Heinrich Schütz, to the Passions of J. S. Bach, oratorio-passions such as ""Der Tod Jesu"" set by Telemann and Carl Heinrich Graun. After Telemann came the galante oratorio style of C. P. E. Bach. The Georgian era saw a German-born monarch and German-born composer define the English oratorio. George Frideric Handel, most famous today for his ""Messiah"" (1741), also wrote other oratorios based on themes from Greek and Roman mythology and Biblical topics. He is also"
"the harpsichordist and conductor Ondřej Macek, whose Hofmusici orchestra performed the work at Prague Castle on 3 May 2008—its first performance since 1730. A composition by Vivaldi is identified by RV number, which refers to its place in the ""Ryom-Verzeichnis"" or ""Répertoire des oeuvres d'Antonio Vivaldi"", a catalog created in the 20th century by the musicologist Peter Ryom. ""Le quattro stagioni"" (The Four Seasons) of 1723 is his most famous work. Part of ""Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione"" (""The Contest between Harmony and Invention""), it depicts moods and scenes from each of the four seasons. This work has been described"
"La Nativité du Seigneur La Nativité du Seigneur (""The Nativity of the Lord"" or ""The Birth of the Saviour"") is a work for organ, written by the French composer Olivier Messiaen in 1935. ""La Nativité du Seigneur"" is a testament to Messiaen's Christian faith, being divided into nine ""meditations"" inspired by the birth of Jesus. In volume one, Messiaen outlines his inspirations, both theological, instrumental and compositional. As the composer notes in his preface, he sought ""the emotion and sincerity first"". The work was written by the composer at the age of 27 years during the summer of 1935 while"
"noting the great complexity of the human body and the wonder of how it all stays so well for so many years. Creation (William Billings) Creation is a hymn tune composed by William Billings. Billings included ""Creation"" in his final collection, ""The Continental Harmony"" (published in 1794). The words are by Isaac Watts: the first stanza is from Psalm 139 and the second from hymn 19, book 2, of his ""Hymns"". In 2002, historian of science Edward B. Davis (co-editor of ""The Works of Robert Boyle"") discovered that Watts based the second stanza on a meditation by the famous chemist"
"pope Benedict XIII invited Vivaldi to play for him. In 1725, Vivaldi returned to Venice, where he produced four operas in the same year. During this period Vivaldi wrote the ""Four Seasons"", four violin concertos that give musical expression to the seasons of the year. Though three of the concerti are wholly original, the first, ""Spring"", borrows motifs from a Sinfonia in the first act of Vivaldi's contemporaneous opera ""Il Giustino"". The inspiration for the concertos was probably the countryside around Mantua. They were a revolution in musical conception: in them Vivaldi represented flowing creeks, singing birds (of different species,"
"writing, ""Theofanidis may well have himself a landmark work in ""Creation/Creator"". It is only superficially akin to Haydn's ""Creation"" in theme as an oratorio. While Haydn's work dealt with human creativity only as a subtext to the Biblical creation story, it is central to Theofanidis' oratorio. If considered only from a point of the composer's choices of texts alone, it is a work that will spark the interest of contemporary audiences."" Creation/Creator Creation/Creator is an oratorio for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, bass, chorus, and orchestra by the American composer Christopher Theofanidis. The work was commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra"
"Gethsemane (oratorio) Gethsemane is a chamber-oratorio by the British composer Matthew King. Commissioned for the opening concert of the 1998 Spitalfields Festival, the work was composed for the early music group, ""Florilegium"" and is scored for 4 vocalists (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and a 'Baroque' ensemble consisting of flute solo, 2 oboes, 3 natural trumpets, strings, harpsichord and percussion. The oratorio uses a compilation of Biblical texts to relate the New Testament narrative from Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem until his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Each of the four vocalists represents several characters in the story and all"
"influential London political and cultural figures. In June 1744 Thomson published a drastically revised version of ""The Seasons"", which became extremely influential over the following century. Joseph Haydn wrote a major oratorio based on the poem, significant artists including Thomas Gainsborough, J. M. W. Turner and Richard Westall painted scenes from it, and over 400 editions of ""The Seasons"" in a number of languages were published between 1744 and 1870. The painting depicts a scene from ""Summer"" in which the young Damon sits thinking by a stream on a hot summer's day. The beautiful Musidora strips naked to cool down"
"Giovanni Paisiello Giovanni Paisiello (or Paesiello; 9 May 1740 – 5 June 1816) was an Italian composer of the Classical era, and was the most popular opera composer of the late 1700s. Paisiello was born in Taranto in the Apulia region and educated by the Jesuits there. He became known for his beautiful singing voice and in 1754 was sent to the Conservatorio di S. Onofrio at Naples, where he studied under Francesco Durante, and eventually became assistant master. For the theatre of the Conservatorio, which he left in 1763, he wrote some intermezzi, one of which attracted so much"
"Creation (William Billings) Creation is a hymn tune composed by William Billings. Billings included ""Creation"" in his final collection, ""The Continental Harmony"" (published in 1794). The words are by Isaac Watts: the first stanza is from Psalm 139 and the second from hymn 19, book 2, of his ""Hymns"". In 2002, historian of science Edward B. Davis (co-editor of ""The Works of Robert Boyle"") discovered that Watts based the second stanza on a meditation by the famous chemist Robert Boyle. In that text, from ""Occasional Reflections Upon Several Subjects"" (1665), Boyle reflected on an illness from which he had recovered,"
"oratorio, mixing solo voice, chorus, and non-acted character roles, but in a style more related to Palestrina than to anything Baroque. Francesco Soriano Francesco Soriano (Soriano nel Cimino, 1548 or 1549 – Rome, 19 July 1621) was an Italian composer of the Renaissance. He was one of the most skilled members of the Roman School in the first generation after Palestrina. Soriano was born at Soriano, near Viterbo. He studied at the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome with several people including Palestrina, became a priest in the 1570s and by 1580 was ""maestro di cappella"" at S."
"Ottorino Respighi Ottorino Respighi (; 9 July 187918 April 1936) was an Italian violinist, composer and musicologist, best known for his trilogy of orchestral tone poems: ""Fountains of Rome"" (1916), ""Pines of Rome"" (1924), and ""Roman Festivals"" (1928). His musicological interest in 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century music led him to compose pieces based on the music of these periods. He also wrote several operas, the most famous being ""La fiamma"". Ottorino Respighi was born on 9 July 1879 in an apartment inside Palazzo Fantuzzi on Via Guido Reni in Bologna, Italy, into a musical family. His father, a local piano"
"The Seasons (Tchaikovsky) The Seasons, Op. 37a (also seen as Op. 37b; ; published with the French title Les Saisons), is a set of twelve short character pieces for solo piano by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Each piece is the characteristic of a different month of the year in the northern hemisphere. The work is also sometimes heard in orchestral and other arrangements by other hands. Individual excerpts have always been popular – ""Troika"" (November) was a favourite encore of Sergei Rachmaninoff, and ""Barcarolle"" (June) was enormously popular and appeared in numerous arrangements (for orchestra, violin, cello, clarinet,"